Amari Pulsehttp://blog.amari.com
Unique insights on the Amari lifestyle brought to you in full colourMon, 02 Mar 2015 09:15:50 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1What Have You Missed in February 2015?http://blog.amari.com/missed-february-2015/
http://blog.amari.com/missed-february-2015/#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 09:15:50 +0000http://blog.amari.com/?p=1459Happy Reading! A local’s take on what to do in the Maldives to learning about Chinese New year to discovering shopping in Bangkok, read it all and more below in our February 2015 blog round-up. Amari Events & Updates Construction of Amari Havodda Maldives Villas Begins: Amari Havodda Maldives construction is in full swing. Check out photos […]

Amari Picks – Things to Do & See

Shopaholic’s Guide to Bangkok By BTS Skytrain: From maze-like markets to mammoth malls, Bangkok is every shopaholic’s paradise. Our blog series is an easy guide to navigating Bangkok’s immense city-centre shopping terrain on the Skytrain (BTS)

Turn Off Your Lights
Turn off all the non-essential lights in your home or business. Safety is imperative so make sure you have alternative light sources handy before Earth Hour starts, like torches or flashlights to see in the dark.

Turn Your Computer Off
Even when your computer is idle, it still uses energy. Cut down by turning off your device for one hour during Earth Hour.

Share Your Commitment & Tell Your Friends About Earth Hour!The more people that participate in Earth Hour, the more energy that is saved and awareness is raised. Share your commitment with this year’s the official Earth Hour hashtag: #YourPower.

]]>http://blog.amari.com/participating-earth-hour-2015/feed/0Earth Hour 2015 Is Just Around The Cornerhttp://blog.amari.com/earth-hour-2015-just-around-corner/
http://blog.amari.com/earth-hour-2015-just-around-corner/#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 07:16:58 +0000http://blog.amari.com/?p=1438What exactly is Earth Hour? Earth Hour is a global environmental movement that began in 2007. It is organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and volunteer organisations from around the world. For one hour every year the world unites to show its dedication to protecting the environment by turning off non-essential lights […]

However, it’s important to note that Earth Hour is much more than just switching lights off; it’s a stand against climate change and a global dedication to protecting the environment. The act of turning off our lights has now become an iconic symbol of people’s concern to protecting our planet, our home. So let’s do what we can, while we can.

For more information on how you can be a part of Earth Hour, click here.

]]>http://blog.amari.com/earth-hour-2015-just-around-corner/feed/0Construction of Amari Havodda Maldives Villas Beginshttp://blog.amari.com/construction-amari-havodda-maldives-villas-begins/
http://blog.amari.com/construction-amari-havodda-maldives-villas-begins/#commentsThu, 19 Feb 2015 05:26:00 +0000http://blog.amari.com/?p=1431One step closer to Maldivian paradise. Amari Havodda Maldives construction is in full swing and set to open in early 2016. In the photos below you’ll see the initial structures of the Over Water Villas right in the pristine, blue ocean with uninterrupted views over the reef and also a mock up of what the […]

Amari Havodda Maldives construction is in full swing and set to open in early 2016. In the photos below you’ll see the initial structures of the Over Water Villas right in the pristine, blue ocean with uninterrupted views over the reef and also a mock up of what the completed villa is expected to look like.

Inspired by traditional Maldivian art and architecture and the scenic natural surroundings, each villa is designed with the contemporary theme of ‘natural simplicity’ and serves as your private sanctuary. Surrounded by such beauty, you’ll enjoy a private terrace with oversized day bed, an open-air courtyard bathroom with shower and so much more.

]]>http://blog.amari.com/construction-amari-havodda-maldives-villas-begins/feed/0A Shopaholic’s Guide to Bangkok By BTS Skytrain: Phrom Phonghttp://blog.amari.com/shopaholics-guide-bangkok-bts-skytrain-phrom-phong/
http://blog.amari.com/shopaholics-guide-bangkok-bts-skytrain-phrom-phong/#commentsFri, 13 Feb 2015 07:34:38 +0000http://blog.amari.com/?p=1421From maze-like markets to mammoth malls, Bangkok is every shopaholic’s paradise. With everything available from quaint, local sea shell key-chain souvenirs to world-class designer goods, here’s an easy guide to navigating Bangkok’s immense city-centre shopping terrain on the Bangkok Mass Transit System (more commonly known as the BTS or Skytrain). You might not be able […]

]]>From maze-like markets to mammoth malls, Bangkok is every shopaholic’s paradise. With everything available from quaint, local sea shell key-chain souvenirs to world-class designer goods, here’s an easy guide to navigating Bangkok’s immense city-centre shopping terrain on the Bangkok Mass Transit System (more commonly known as the BTS or Skytrain). You might not be able to beat the heat but zipping above the jammed-packed roads on the Skytrain, you will definitely beat the traffic…and that means more time for shopping!

BTS STATION: PHROM PHONG

Connecting citizens and tourists to Bangkok’s premier residential and entertainment district on upper Sukhumvit, Phrom Phong BTS station is on the verge of becoming one of city’s most popular shopping stops with the renovation of Emporium shopping centre and grand launch of mall EmQuartier in late 2015.

Emporium

Source: www.bangkokscene.com

Take Exit 2. A favourite with locals and tourists alike for its convenience, central location and great selection of brands, designers, stores, restaurants and movies, Emporium has become a Sukhumvit institution. You’ll see businessmen and women meeting for corporate coffee, creative freelancers with headphones on working away, local families enjoying a day out and tourists showing off their shopping bags. Emporium is a must this year as it gets a whole new look, which means a whole new shopping experience for you.

EmQuartier: Opening late 2015

Source: bangkok.coconuts.co

Right across the road from Emporium and rising high above Sukhumvit’s buildings and shop-houses is the impressive and massive EmQuartier. Set to open in late 2015, this immense mall will consist of stores, offices, event halls and a large rooftop garden. Boasting a modern, curved facade and sleek interiors, shopping here is not to be missed. Stay tuned for more updates.

]]>http://blog.amari.com/shopaholics-guide-bangkok-bts-skytrain-phrom-phong/feed/0Honeymoon With A Sweet Twisthttp://blog.amari.com/honeymoon-sweet-twist/
http://blog.amari.com/honeymoon-sweet-twist/#commentsThu, 12 Feb 2015 08:13:43 +0000http://blog.amari.com/?p=1407See what all the buzz is about. As you may have read in our recent blog post honeybees are vital to sustaining the environment and in turn the human population. Amari introduced the ‘Plan BEE’ programme in an effort to help protect the Asian honeybee, which is under threat of extinction. The project provides practical training […]

As you may have read in our recent blog post honeybees are vital to sustaining the environment and in turn the human population. Amari introduced the ‘Plan BEE’ programme in an effort to help protect the Asian honeybee, which is under threat of extinction.

The project provides practical training and the start-up tools to rural farming communities in Thailand, enabling communities to earn a supplementary income. The first of which took place at Baan Kao Kram, a village in Krabi in November 2013 and you can see what all the buzz is about.

Amari Vogue Krabi is offering newlyweds and couples alike the once-in-a-lifetime to fuse adventure with romance with the all-inclusive special ‘Honeytouring’ package:

See the buzz: A visit to the hotel’s rural honeybee farming project part of the ‘Plan BEE’program at Baan Khao Kram, a small village nestled in one of the region’s lush natural forests. During the honey farm visit, you will be taken on a personal tour with the apiculturist, observing the honey harvesting and bottling process*, while surrounded by the wild landscapes of the honeybee’s natural habitat.

*Harvesting activities during the excursion cannot be guaranteed, due to the honey bee’s natural production cycle

Rejuvenate with sweet scents: Beginning with a 60 minute massage, followed by a 45-minute Almond Milk Honey body scrub or an Oat Honey Cookie body mask, made from the project’s very first honey harvest.

Honey-inspired treatments at Breeze Spa

Indulge in honey-inspired delights by the beach: After relaxing at the spa, you’ll enjoy a romantic candle lit dinner on the beach, with a special ‘honey’ themed menu carefully curated by Amari Vogue’s in-house chef, fusing the golden honey’s unique characteristics from the wild flower nectars into delectable dishes to wow your taste buds.

]]>http://blog.amari.com/honeymoon-sweet-twist/feed/0Why Protecting Honeybees Is Important To Ushttp://blog.amari.com/protecting-honeybees-important-us/
http://blog.amari.com/protecting-honeybees-important-us/#commentsThu, 12 Feb 2015 07:41:21 +0000http://blog.amari.com/?p=1397Bee-concerned. Where would we be without bees? Did you know honeybees are under threat of extinction and it affects us directly? Honeybees are the world’s leading pollinators – pollinating and helping grow 70 of the top 100 crops that feed 90% of the world. If honeybees become extinct, there is a grave effect. We lose plants […]

Where would we be without bees?

Did you know honeybees are under threat of extinction and it affects us directly? Honeybees are the world’s leading pollinators – pollinating and helping grow 70 of the top 100 crops that feed 90% of the world. If honeybees become extinct, there is a grave effect. We lose plants and the animals that feed on those plants and so on up the food chain. To put it simply, there will be a struggle to sustain the global human population of 7 billion.

What are we doing about it?

This is a global problem. Here in Thailand, Amari introduced the ongoing ‘Plan BEE’ project that focuses on the conservation of natural biodiversity through the protection of the Asian honeybee, which is under threat of extinction. ‘Plan BEE’ provides communities with practical training from an experienced apiculturist (or bee keeper) and the start-up tools to maintain a healthy Asian honeybee population, subsequently enabling them to earn a supplementary income. The first of which took place at Baan Kao Kram, a village in Krabi in November 2013. You can learn more here.

]]>http://blog.amari.com/protecting-honeybees-important-us/feed/015 Interesting Facts About Chinese New Yearhttp://blog.amari.com/15-interesting-facts-chinese-new-year/
http://blog.amari.com/15-interesting-facts-chinese-new-year/#commentsWed, 11 Feb 2015 07:16:03 +0000http://blog.amari.com/?p=1376Gung Hei Fat Choy! 1. Global festival: Chinese New Year is not only celebrated in China, but by many other countries in Southeast Asia including Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, and Indonesia. 2. Lunar calendar: The date of Chinese New Year changes every year because the Chinese use the Lunar calendar, which is based on […]

1. Global festival: Chinese New Year is not only celebrated in China, but by many other countries in Southeast Asia including Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei, and Indonesia.

2. Lunar calendar: The date of Chinese New Year changes every year because the Chinese use the Lunar calendar, which is based on the time it takes the moon to go around the earth.

3. Year of the Goat: There are twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Each New Year is represented by an animal. 2015 is the Year of the Goat.

4. “Gung Hei Fat Choy”: How to say Happy New Year in Chinese.

5. Spring cleaning before the New Year holidays begin: people will do a complete cleaning of the house ‘to remove the old and welcome the new’. To add extra luck once the house is clean, it is common for people to add small red decoration such as a sticking a small piece of paper to furniture and other belongings.

6. No work shall be done during New Year holidays: The cleaning is done before because it is believed people should not do any work during the New Year as it is holiday time and people should enjoy the time with loved ones.

7. Fruits of luck: The days during the Chinese New Year holiday are spent visiting family and friends and it is customary to offer fruits of luck such as oranges and apples when visiting.

8. Family reunion: Chinese New Year is often treated as a time for family reunions and to celebrate everyone coming together the New Year’s Eve Dinner is very important. It is often a home-cooked meal with fish, dumplings, and other favourites.

9. Fireworks wards off evil spirits:“Shou Sui” means “after the New Year’s Eve dinner” and during this time family and friends will stay awake until midnight to watch the fireworks. It is believed the bright red colour, fire and loud sounds ward off evil spirits.

10. The colour red also keeps evil spirits away: Red is often used for decoration and many people also dress in the colour because it is believed red symbolizes fire and keeps evil spirits away.

11. Ang Pow:Red envelopes (commonly known as “ang pow”) containing money are often given to family members as a sign of blessing and good luck for the new year.

12. Dragon Dance: The Dragon Dance is significant because it is believed the loud drumming and cymbals keep evil spirits away.

13. Lanterns are significant: Red decorative lanterns are often hung on the streets and outsides home because it is believed they symbolise vitality, social status and good luck. They are decorated with beautiful images, Chinese characters and have paper hanging with riddles on them.

14. One festival to mark the end of another: Chinese New Year is actually a 15 day festival the end of which is marked by the Lantern Festival on the first full moon.

15. Riddles and food: During the Lantern Festival people often walk the streets and guess the lantern riddles by pulling the paper off the lantern and checking their answer with the owner. If they get the answer right they can win a small prize. And the festival is not over before one indulges in ‘tangyuan’ – a dumpling made of glutinous rice flour with rose petals, sesame, bean paste, dried fruit, walnut meat and jujube paste.

]]>http://blog.amari.com/15-interesting-facts-chinese-new-year/feed/0A Shopaholic’s Guide to Bangkok By BTS Skytrain: Asokhttp://blog.amari.com/shopaholics-guide-bangkok-bts-skytrain-asok/
http://blog.amari.com/shopaholics-guide-bangkok-bts-skytrain-asok/#commentsWed, 04 Feb 2015 10:01:09 +0000http://blog.amari.com/?p=1358From maze-like markets to mammoth malls, Bangkok is every shopaholic’s paradise. With everything available from quaint, local sea shell key-chain souvenirs to world-class designer goods, here’s an easy guide to navigating Bangkok’s immense city-centre shopping terrain on the Bangkok Mass Transit System (more commonly known as the BTS or Skytrain). You might not be able […]

]]>From maze-like markets to mammoth malls, Bangkok is every shopaholic’s paradise. With everything available from quaint, local sea shell key-chain souvenirs to world-class designer goods, here’s an easy guide to navigating Bangkok’s immense city-centre shopping terrain on the Bangkok Mass Transit System (more commonly known as the BTS or Skytrain). You might not be able to beat the heat but zipping above the jammed-packed roads on the Skytrain, you will definitely beat the traffic…and that means more time for shopping!

BTS STATION: ASOK

Robinson

Source: www.bts.co.th

Exit 1 leads you straight into Robinson Sukhumvit department store. Cozy and compact, browsing through the store is fun and easy and the shopping is quite reasonable. You’ll find everything from shoes, swimwear and hair accessories to men’s shirts and suitcases from well-known international and local brands.

Terminal 21

Source: http://www.lasplash.com/

Look out for the grand gateway connecting the BTS station and Terminal 21. Opened in 2012, the mall boasts an impressive transparent exterior and creative interiors, all inspired by world travels. Each floor transports you to a different location — The Caribbean, Rome, Paris, Tokyo, London, Istanbul, San Francisco and Hollywood. A great way to spend the day, Terminal 21 features international brands and designers, locally-owner boutiques (these are a must-see), a whole floor dedicated to dining, bowling and cinema’s. And of course, be sure to take a selfie or two with the impressive decor and architecture in the background.

]]>http://blog.amari.com/shopaholics-guide-bangkok-bts-skytrain-asok/feed/0A Local’s Take on Top 10 Things To Do in the Maldiveshttp://blog.amari.com/locals-take-top-10-things-maldives/
http://blog.amari.com/locals-take-top-10-things-maldives/#commentsMon, 02 Feb 2015 10:06:10 +0000http://blog.amari.com/?p=1308This year is a big one for all of us here at Amari — we’re gearing up for the opening of Amari Havodda Maldives in early 2016 and we can’t wait for you to experience it so we asked a Maldives local for the Top 10 Things To Do while visiting this beautiful island paradise. […]

]]>This year is a big one for all of us here at Amari — we’re gearing up for the opening of Amari Havodda Maldives in early 2016 and we can’t wait for you to experience it so we asked a Maldives local for the Top 10 Things To Do while visiting this beautiful island paradise. Check it out: